idea Erase Tool in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Erase Tool

ChrisRumig — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:28:06 GMT

Move the erase tool to an ArcView or ArcGIS Standard license.

Why does the Erase Tool require an ArcInfo or ArcGIS Advanced license other than it's a left over from the days of Arc/Info Workstation??
Even a less powerful GIS like MapInfo allows users to run functions like erase without an upgraded license.

C'mon ESRI

Re: Erase Tool

JessicaBonsell — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:55:08 GMT

Agreed! I've had this issue at my workplace. A fellow GIS worker wanted to do exactly what the Erase tool does, so I went to ArcToolbox and discovered that I couldn't use the tool at all, simply because the computer didn't have an ArcInfo license (like mine has). We had to fix her problem in a round-a-bout sort of way when it could have been completed in five seconds!

Erase Tool Lincensing

KeithDarby1 — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:03:08 GMT

I would like to see the erase tool that is in ArcMap to be used for users that have the standard license. I don't understand as to why you need the advanced license in order to use this tool.

Re: Erase Tool Lincensing

WillAnderson — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:11:19 GMT

Agreed. Esri, throw caution to the wind and make it available for those of us slumming it in Basic License land.

Let Erase tool be available at the Basic License

JenniferBorlick — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:05:49 GMT

One of the things I don't understand is why the Erase tool is only available at the Professional Plus/Advanced Level. Can we drop that to the Creator/Basic level, especially considering that it is now available at the the Creator Level in ArcGIS Online?

Re: Erase Tool

KoryKramer — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:22:41 GMT

In ArcGIS Pro, when you open the Erase tool, there is a banner that references the Pairwise Erase tool. Pairwise Erase is available at all license levels: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/analysis/pairwise-erase.htm#L_

Re: Erase Tool

JenniferBorlick — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:35:56 GMT

That's nice to know. So, how hard is it to move the Erase tool to Basic? Is the code for that "trapped" behind other code that's only available at Advanced?

I would honestly prefer to see Erase go away entirely to reduce confusion. I've been annoyed at this being in Advanced for years. We're looking at restructuring our licenses and just about got more than we needed for this tool.

Re: Erase Tool

KoryKramer — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:40:12 GMT

I'm in touch with the team, Jennifer, regarding your question on level of effort. We will keep the community updated through this idea's status. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the new Pairwise Erase tool in Pro. There are a number of considerations we take into account when deprecating tools and given the vast number of scripts, models, and other workflows that will have the Erase tool in them, we won't do anything hasty.

Re: Erase Tool

JenniferBorlick — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:34:38 GMT

I can only imagine... Thanks for considering it. Another thought is to figure out a way to re-direct people who want to use the Erase tool and get blocked by the license to the Pairwise tool other than a message that says that it works better...

Just throwing things against a wall trying to see what sticks. There's a pretty big price jump between Creator and Professional +. I'm glad I found this out before we did the license switch. This one tool plays a factor in the licenses we're looking at.

Re: Erase Tool

SimonSchütte_ct — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:47:57 GMT

@JenniferBorlick I´d recommend you checking out this list: ArcGIS Pro Functionality Levels (Geoprocessing Too... - Esri Community

Re: Erase Tool

JenniferBorlick — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:38:46 GMT

Perfect! Thanks @SimonSchütte_ct !

Re: Erase Tool

RTPL_AU — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:42:14 GMT

Re: Erase Tool - Status changed to: In Product Plan

DrewFlater — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:37:53 GMT

Re: Erase Tool

SimonSchütte_ct — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:42:48 GMT

@DrewFlater Great to hear the Erase tool is finally coming to other versions!

Please also take a look at the other tools with different names but (nearly) identical functionality that are available in ArcGIS Pro Basic tools (Buffer/Intersect come to mind / ->Pairwise...).
Having tools that rely on old backend engines requiring higher license levels than newer tools that rely on a new backend engine is strange. Especially since the "old" tools have a info box stating that "the "Pairwise... tool provides enhanced functionality or performance"...